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What to Know about Licenses and Credits

Our platform empowers you to visualize and interact with your 3D models and Cesium map layers seamlessly. A crucial aspect of managing these digital assets is understanding and properly handling their licenses. This guide explains why licensing is important and how to manage it within our application.

Table of Contents

What is a License in this Context?

A license is a legal document or statement that grants specific permissions for how a creative work (like a 3D model, texture, or map layer) can be used, shared, or modified. It defines the rights and restrictions set by the creator or copyright holder.

Why Including a License with Your Upload is Important

When you upload a model or layer, attaching its license provides several key benefits:

  • Protecting Your Intellectual Property (IP): If you are the creator, the license defines the boundaries of use, helping protect your rights. You specify whether others can modify it, use it commercially, or need to give you credit (attribution).
  • Ensuring Compliance: For assets you’ve obtained from others, uploading the license alongside the asset helps you keep track of the usage rights you possess, ensuring you remain compliant with the original terms.
  • Building Trust and Transparency: Clearly licensed assets contribute to a trustworthy environment where users respect intellectual property rights.

Why You MUST include Licenses with Licensed Assets

It is critical to only upload and use 3D models and Cesium map layers for which you have the appropriate license. Using assets without the correct permissions is not just bad practice – it can have serious consequences.

Most creative works are automatically protected by copyright upon creation. Using a model or layer without permission or outside the scope of its license constitutes copyright infringement. This can lead to:

  • Lawsuits: Copyright holders can sue for damages.
  • Takedown Notices: You may be forced to remove the asset from your scenes and our platform.
  • Project Delays and Costs: Discovering unlicensed assets mid-project can force costly rework, asset replacement, and delays.
  • Reputational Damage: Being associated with copyright infringement can damage your personal or company reputation.
  • Ethical Responsibility: Creators deserve to control how their work is used and be compensated or credited according to their terms. Using unlicensed assets disrespects their rights and efforts.
  • Platform Integrity: To maintain a legal and ethical environment, our platform requires users to respect licensing. Violations may lead to warnings, content removal, or account suspension as per our Terms of Service.

Just because a model or layer is available online (even for “free”) does not automatically mean it’s free to use in any way you wish. Always check for a license and ensure its terms permit your intended use. If there is no clear license, assume you cannot use it without explicit permission from the creator.

How to Add a License to a Model

TODO - show license feature

How to Add a License to a Layer

TODO - replace what’s here

We’ve made it easy to attach license information during the upload process:

Initiate Upload: Begin uploading your 3D model or Cesium layer as usual. Locate the License Section: In the upload form/dialog, you will find fields dedicated to license information. Specify License Details: License Type: Select from a dropdown of common licenses (e.g., Creative Commons variants like CC BY, CC BY-NC-ND, Public Domain - CC0) if applicable. Custom License/Source URL: If using a less common license, a commercial license, or if the license text is hosted online, provide a direct URL to the license terms. License File Upload (Optional): If you have a .txt or .pdf file containing the license text, you may be able to upload it directly. Attribution/Credit: Include any required attribution text (e.g., “Model by [Creator Name], licensed under CC BY”). Complete Upload: Confirm the details and finish your upload. The license information will be stored alongside your asset, easily accessible for future reference.

Viewing a Model’s License

TODO - screenshots and walkthrough of opening model license

While Building a Scene

TODO - screenshots and walkthrough of credits icon from scene view menu

While Viewing a Shared Scene

TODO - screenshots and walkthrough of shared scene from share page

Common License Types to Know

Resources to help you understand the most common licenses you may encounter:

Common license types you may encounter:

  • Creative Commons (CC): A suite of licenses allowing creators to share work with specific conditions (Attribution, NonCommercial, NoDerivatives, ShareAlike). Always check the specific CC license (e.g., CC BY 4.0).
  • Public Domain (CC0 or equivalent): No copyright restrictions; free for any use without attribution.
  • Commercial Licenses: Often purchased from marketplaces (like TurboSquid, Sketchfab Store). Rights are usually specific to the purchase agreement (e.g., limited number of projects, no redistribution). Read these carefully.
  • Proprietary Licenses: Custom terms set by the creator or company. Requires careful reading.
  • Open Source Licenses (for Data/Code): Licenses like ODbL (for databases/data) might apply to certain map layers.

Disclaimer: This guide provides informational advice on the importance of licensing. It does not constitute legal advice. For specific legal questions regarding copyright and licensing for your projects, please consult with a qualified legal professional.